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had been interested in the doings of one young girlat least not interested in the sense of setting spies on her to hear what she said. In addition, the court had been different in those daysexcept for the few months when old Queen Alinor had sparred with the Chancellor Longchamp. Richard never felt he needed to set spies on his subjects. He was willing, even eager, to meet any rebellion or treachery they planned head on in battle. There was no need for his subjects to spy upon him. Whatever faults Richard had, concealing his feelings was not one of them. John was different entirely. He was deceitful by nature and totally paranoid. Spies were as natural to his court as ants to a honeypot, and probably as frequent.
"How stupid of me," Alinor exclaimed involuntarily, and then, her own eyes twinkling, "here I have been feeling quite out of sorts, which you know is most unusual to me, and I did not know what was troubling me until you brought it to my mind. I am quite unused to the rush and hurry of a court. I think, perhaps, if it is decided that we will stay, I will have to seek out a house where I may have a little quiet."
"So wise," Lady Ela agreed. "And then if one has any little ailment that needs physicking, it may be attended to easily in decent privacy and comfort."
The question of how often Salisbury, who was as strong as an ox, might need "physicking" flashed across Alinor's mind, but it would be both dangerous and ungrateful to ask. Instead she said, "Now that you have so kindly solved this problem for me, Lady Ela, perhaps you would be so good as to help me with another. It is many years since I have been to court. I am sure the modes and manners are much changed from the time of King Richard. If it would not weary you too much, would you tell me how I must bear myself in Queen Isabella's presence?"
"I am seldom wearied by talking to one person at a time in a quiet place. Indeed, I find that a restorative to

 
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